Wessex Water chief pockets above-inflation pay rise despite bonus ban over sewage spills
Wessex Water has awarded its CEO a 14% salary increase despite being subject to a government-mandated bonus ban due to environmental failures. The company faces public backlash for the pay hike, which significantly outpaces the raises provided to its general workforce.
Why it matters
This highlights ongoing tensions regarding executive compensation in the UK water sector amidst widespread public anger over sewage pollution and environmental mismanagement.
A sewage treatment works in Dorset owned by Wessex Water. A sewage treatment works in Dorset owned by Wessex Water. Executive pay and bonuses Wessex Water chief pockets above-inflation pay rise despite bonus ban over sewage spills CEO’s pay packet surges to £791,000 as union says public ‘sick of obscene pay’ and bosses ‘feathering own nests’
Prefer the Guardian on Google Wessex Water awarded its chief executive an above-inflation pay increase even as the company was banned from paying bonuses because of sewage spills, it has emerged.
Ruth Jefferson received a 14% base salary increase in October, from £590,000 to £670,000, before other benefits, according to accounts published this month. It was far above the 3.5% given to workers, and put her pay at 18 times that of the company’s median employee.
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